Last week, we reported that an unidentified A-list Hollywood star is battling HIV.
Now several sources are confirming that the afflicted actor is none other than hard-partying bad boy Charlie Sheen.
It was announced today that Sheen will appear on the Today show on Tuesday to make a “revealing personal announcement” in an interview with Matt Lauer.
When the interview was first announced, many noted that the timing coincided with the circulating rumor about an HIV patient whose description made him sound a lot like Sheen.
Now, media outlets such as TMZ and The National Enquirer are confirming that Sheen will in fact reveal his diagnosis in his interview Lauer.
Fortunately, early reports indicate that whoever the patient is, his prognosis is promising:
“His medical outlook is positive,” said one of the insiders who first revealed the diagnosis last week.
“He was teary-eyed as he told friends that he had [the disease], but he felt that a public admission would destroy him and his fans.”
The famously cocksure Sheen is reportedly nervous about how fans and his Hollywood colleagues will react, as the disease bears a stigma and tends to breed ugly rumors even in the most progressive-minded communities.
Sheen has yet to publicly address the reports and has been uncharacteristically quiet on social media in recent weeks.
We’ll keep you updated on this story as more information becomes available.